Pornography and Its Addiction

by Drew Edwards
Summer 2014

Introduction by Kathi Smith, Senior Editor

Dr. Drew Edwards is a nationally known healthcare researcher, author, clinician and consultant. He is also a forensic expert in the neurobiology of addictive disease. We have the privilege of having him on CHM's board of directors. His expertise in the area of addictions has been such a blessing to our staff and prayer ministers. He has taught numerous times at our Schools of Healing Prayer^® and has published many articles on addiction. We have asked him to share a clinician's understanding of pornography.

The major civilizing force in the world is not religion, it is sex. — Hugh Hefner, Founder of Playboy

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Jesus, Matthew 5:8

Pornography is nothing new. It has been around for thousands of years. The fact that it is now readily accessible, convenient, affordable, anonymous, and has penetrated popular culture so deeply and yet seemingly so easily, is cause for alarm. Pornography's devastating and corrupting impact on the human heart is tearing individuals, marriages, families, and our social fabric apart. Regrettably, pornography is now commonplace in our sexually liberated, "anything goes" culture. But we do not lose faith, because God is stronger than our weakness and any temptations we will face. The Apostle Peter, who was Jesus' closest friend, proclaims the hope we have in Christ in 2 Peter 1:2b–4:

…Then know how to know him better and better. For as you know him better he will give you, through great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: And by that same mighty power He has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings He promised; for instance to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us and to give us His own character. (Living Bible)

PORNOGRAPHY DEFINED

The word pornography comes from the Greek word porn, which means harlot, female captive, prostitute, or sexual immorality. Webster's definition is obscene or licentious writing or painting, while the American Heritage Dictionary defines it as written or pictorial matter intended to arouse sexual feelings. In the New Testament there are 26 specific references to porn or sexual immorality. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the danger of sexual sin.Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these. — Colossians 3:5–8

Jesus radically raises the bar in regards to adultery, to include lust.But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. — Matthew 5:28

Lust is looking at, or thinking about another person as a sex object rather than one made in God's image. Jesus wants us to realize that both the act of adultery and lust for another person are sinful. He calls us to view all human beings as persons of worth and value. For men, we are to honor and respect women, not use them for our sexual fantasies or personal gratification. Clearly pornography is antithetical to the teaching of Jesus.

THE BIOLOGY OF ADDICTION

Medically speaking, addiction is brain disease. We have the imaging technology to observe and measure changes in the brain function of addicts. The specific area of the brain affected by drugs, alcohol and porn is the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Often referred to as the "pleasure pathway," it is located in the midbrain and regulates the neurobiological processes essential to our survival via our perceptions and emotions. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that produces feelings of both pleasure and reward in the brain. Eating, drinking and sex are the primary survival drives in all mammals. For example, when we are hungry our interests narrow. If food is not forthcoming, we become preoccupied and then obsessed with attaining food. Nothing else matters to a starving person. When food is consumed, dopamine is released and the hunger switch is turned off and we quickly return to homeostasis or normal functioning. Addiction hijacks or fools the brain's reward system. Addicted people have a narrowing of interests, become preoccupied and eventually obsessed with attaining their "drug of choice." It becomes a singular focus. All other interests and goals become secondary and their lives become unraveled, unmanageable and out of control. Like drugs and alcohol, pornography produces similar neurobiological changes in the brain.

THE BRAIN HIJACKING PROCESS

God created men and women differently. A man's sexual response is almost always initiated visually. Pornographers know this and have created a billion dollar industry by seducing men. Accordingly, the following section deals exclusively with the male response to pornography. When a male sees a pornographic image or video, especially the high definition sex videos, his brain and body respond as if he were seeing the real thing. Neuroscientists call this reaction "mirroring." In plain language, mirroring allows the user to not only view pornography, but also to physiologically, emotionally, and mentally participate in the sexual experience. This occurs via a complex cascade of biological changes. Viewing pornography increases both testosterone and dopamine levels in males. It then creates heightened sexual interest, sexual tension and lust — and while these are subjectively pleasurable, they are not satisfying. In a state of heightened sexual arousal the porn user will surf the net (sometimes for hours) until he finds a sex scene or porn star to complete his sexual cycle. Biochemically, orgasm is the result of a very large dose of endogenous dopamine, which in turn, releases a bolus dose of endogenous morphine into his pleasure center. Nothing comes close to this feeling. This dose of "morphine" also shuts down the anxiety and stress producing mechanisms in the amygdala, a small structure in the midbrain.

Simply stated, pornography delivers intense sexual arousal and orgasm independent of love, affection or a sexual partner. As a Christian, let that sink in for a minute. A man can experience the highest level of physical pleasure by looking at his computer. No disease, no fear of pregnancy, no prostitute, no relationship, and it is virtually free and almost always anonymous.

LONG–TERM EFFECTS

Because porn produces an intense physiological and emotional response, a neuropathway is created. By repeated exposure to porn, the pathway become deeper, wider and harder to ignore. As a result it is easily provoked or triggered. The sights and sounds of porn are embedded on the brain like a virus on a hard drive that cannot be erased. These images are easily recalled and produce arousal and lust. Research shows that when teenagers or young men view pornography regularly, they are more likely to:

• Begin sexual activity, including intercourse, earlier than same–age cohorts
• Believe that promiscuity is normal and harmless
• Believe that the most gratifying sexual satisfaction is possible without love or true affection
• Believe that being married and having a family are undesirable
• Believe that marriage is sexually confining
• Develop sexual compulsions and addictive behaviors
• Believe that deviant sexual practices are common and normal

A SPIRITUAL DISEASE

Like a parasite, pornography attaches itself to our God–given desire for intimate communion with another person in the form of marriage. This healthy desire for relationship is what Jesus himself placed in us before the beginning of the world. Nothing less than this kind of pure love will ever satisfy our true desire. Pornography will never satisfy the God–given desire for real love.

God made us for His pleasure. His desire is be close to us, but even more importantly, He wants us to know Him and His perfect love. Pornography is a counterfeit form of this love. It contaminates and overwhelms people with lies. It denies the fact that true love and communion within the covenant of marriage exists at all. Satan whispers, "God is lying to you and keeping secrets and real pleasure from you."Our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual enemy of God who wages war against our souls. — Ephesians 6:12

THERE IS HOPE

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to pornography: Surrender your life to God, acknowledge that you need God's help, and that you are unable to get healing from this issue alone. Remember this sin thrives in secrecy and isolation.

• Acknowledge the sin and ask God to forgive you.
• Forgive yourself and ask God to cleanse your thoughts, memories and feelings.
• Ask God to change the things that you desire, changing them to his desires for you.
• Address those things that trigger lust and remove them from your life.
• Talk about your struggle and be accountable to someone you trust, someone you care about and someone whom you know cares about you.
• When you speak with that person, you need to be open and honest with them, and then ask them to hold you accountable in your areas of weakness.
• When you are tempted, respond by fleeing and removing yourself from the situation. Ask your accountability partner for help.
• Seek counseling from a Christian counselor with experience in pornography addiction.
• Seek intercessory and healing prayer to remove any spiritual strongholds and unhealthy soul ties.
• Address unresolved wounds and resentments from your past (inner healing and forgiveness prayers).

On a personal note, I am very grateful to Christian Healing Ministries for having the courage and faith to battle the darkness of addiction through fervent prayer and fearless teaching. I now understand that when Jesus said he came to "set the captives free," one of the things he was talking about was spiritual bondage of addiction. We press on, remembering the words of our Lord Jesus: "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." — John 16:33

Drew Edwards is a nationally–known healthcare researcher, author, clinician and consultant. He also serves on CHM's board of directors.